Weird feeling in chest.

[anxietygal11]

Hello, Last few days I have been dealig with some kind of flutterig in chest as if my heart does a hard beat or flutters. It is like it pushes my wind pipe. I also feel "popping" in my throat from time to time. I had some ecgs and an xray, as well as blood tests. They are all fine, but I never had anything like this while they were done. I had a few good days and it happened all of a sudden last night. And again and again, usually at night. Has anyone else had the same thing?

[fallingtopieces]

Not sure if this sounds similar to yours but back in September I woke around 3am feeling as though bubble wrap was popping in my chest. I have an Alivecor monitor which was by the side of my bed so I picked it up to record what was happening. In my case it was short but runs of 5 or 6 abnormal looking beats followed by 5-6 normal beats, then 3 of each, 4 of each and so on, averaging 88 beats per minute, so not fast. This went on for 20 minutes or so then stopped. I sent my recording off for analysis and the result was abnormal groups of atrial beats (but not classed as AF). My EP wasn't worried by it and it hasn't happened again thus far.

Do you drink alcohol in the evening?

Pat.

[anxietygal11 in reply to fallingtopieces]

I am only 20, I don't drink, non smoker. It was just like a hard thump in my chest that pushes my windpipe for a second and I usually burp a lot after that. I have tried to keep my hand on my neck to see if there is something abnormal while it happens, but i don't know if it my mind playing tricks or it really happens but the only thing that feels abnormal is that it goes a bit slower. That is all. And by slower I mean if it was going 65 it would feel like 60-55. My usual heartrate at rest is 60, in the mornings 55. I am fit and eat healthy (so/so)

[fallingtopieces in reply to anxietygal11]

As you're young, fit and healthy, chances are it was nothing more than an ectopic beat.

I would ask for a holter monitor test to be sure. That is an ecg which you wear and it continually records (hidden under your clothing). Not much point in having a 24 hour one if its not happening every night, so ask your doctor/cardiologist for a 7 day monitor if possible.

Although you don't drink alcohol, make sure you don't have red bull or any of those other energy drinks with caffeine either.

Try not to worry about it but do ask to be checked out further.

Pat.

[GregNdonette]

Hi this sounds like what I experience when I have ectopic heart beats. There is that pressure feeling up into the throat and light fluttering in the chest. This has only started since my last ablation four weeks ago. My cardiologist said there is nothing to worry about as a lot of people experience these.

[wendicarro]

That happened to me also after my second ablation, think its quite normal but very un nerving especially pulsing in the throat, Get in touch with your arrhythmia nurse and let them know what's happening.

Good luck

Wendi

[picman2007]

I've had what sounds the same thing, ectopic beats which are fairly uncomfortable mixed with a feeling as though my heart is shaking in my chest and with the feeling of palpitations. I saw my cardiologist the other day who did an ecg which was fine but he said it could be a side effect of the Amiodarone, do you take that?

[RichMert in reply to picman2007]

The Amiodarone was a nightmare for me resulting in throat spasms and what I am beginning to think is sleep paralysis. It does not happen as often now considering I have been off of Amiodarone for 17 months but still a concern when it does.

[picman2007]

He did also say it may be anxiety or stress.

[RichMert in reply to picman2007]

The only thing that annoys me with this suggestion is that had they been getting the symptoms then they to would have been suffering from stress and anxiety. Whilst it may be a fact, I think it borders on being unprofessional to suggest it if you indeed have a problem such as AF.......we are not imagining it.

[picman2007 in reply to RichMert]

I've had AF now for almost 5 years now, had two cardio versions and been on more drugs than I care to think about. Currently under some control with Amiodarone and Bisoprolol.

[RichMert in reply to picman2007]

That is pretty much my story until I had the first ablation. None of the beta blockers worked for me and I joked with the pharmacist that I was starting at A and ending at Z. Fist Ablation lasted for 1 month but then all hell broke out. I had second ablation 2 months later and other than the odd flutter, all is well. The Amiodarone was the only drug that controlled it but the specialist told me that he did not want me on it for more than 6 months as it is so toxic.

[picman2007 in reply to RichMert]

I've been put on Amiodarone for a max of five years. The worse drug I've ever been given was adenosine (I really wouldn't recommend that one).

[PeterWh in reply to RichMert]

Sometimes it is too easy for some (a few) medics and other practitioners to say stress or anxiety or in the case of women over 40 the menopause or hormonal as that is a way of them not admitting that they don't' know what the problem(s) are and maybe subconsciously hoping the person and the problem will go away. Unfortunately some will do just that. It may also a way of dealing with people who may be hypochondriacs and if people really are ill they will come back.

In the case of AF I suspect that it is just because they don't understand it and don't want to admit it. Some are too much in the old fashioned mould where they believe the GP should be able to do provide answers or direction to consultants for everything. I also think that a problem is that when many of them did their training electrophysiologists specialists did not exist or were very few in number. This is also an area where knowledge has developed significantly in the last 15 years. I also believe that this may be lacking in some training of the younger doctors. Could this descend from the concept that AF doesn't kill - but as we all know it can lead to many others that do!!

My GP is quite happy to admit that she is not an expert in AF. Another GP told me that I probably knew much more about AF than most GPs (and I suspect that this comment applies to many others on here).

[EileenMary in reply to PeterWh]

My GP is wonderful and has tried different things to help with my PAF. But he did say that a good doctor knows when he needs to ask for specialist help, so he has referred me to a cardiac consultant. I am luck to have such a GP

[PeterWh in reply to EileenMary]

My GP is very good. In fact when AF was formally diagnosed she was the one who was instrumental in me seeing an electrophysiologist from the start. So glad that she did that!!! Especially true after seeing some of the toing and froing and experiences that some of those on here have had.

[EngMac]

I do not take medication but I do take supplements. I found recently that the multivitamin I was taking was causing this feeling. When I stopped taking it, the feeling stopped. Also, in my case, sometimes when this happened at night, it was the result of something I had eaten or drank during the day - often too many carbs, artificial sugar, or even sulphites. I don't drink alcohol or energy drinks. MSG can be the culprit for some people. I had burping when I ate dairy products which stopped when I stopped eating them. I can have a little dairy and I am ok. Dairy also gives me nosebleeds. I also have a low heartbeat like you.

I would suggest that you pay attention to what you eat or if you take supplements, to stop and then see what happens. You can always start what you have stopped later and if it happens again then you know your body probably does not tolerate it. This is how I found out that I cannot eat anything with peanuts. This is probably worth trying before you take medications since the solution could be one you can implement without too much inconvenience. Many doctors do not suggest this approach so you may need to do this on your own. I am much older than you. I have found several other solutions doing this that have solved issues that doctors could not solve. Our brains tell us stuff but we are often not attentive to what we are being told; or because the brain does not say, " Hey jerk, this is the problem." we miss it. A real pain in the butt to do this but probably better than being on medication that may not be a complete solution and could cause other negatives other than financial. Good luck!

[meadfoot]

I have this regularly and it is very un nerving. Spoke to my GP this past week and am awaiting the outcome of my 7 day event monitor. They love to suggest stress and anxiety dont they. Easy catch all for them. Bet they would be stressed and anxious if they had it.

Hope you feel ok very soon and do get checked out as you will not feel better really until you do.

[Hidden]

Hi nansy,It may have nothing to do with your heart,a lot of people on here also have digestion problems as well,I myself have an Hiatus hernia and duerdenal ulcers which give me the same feeling in the chest as you mainly because of acid reflux.There seems to be some link involving the vagal nerve.Could have nothing to do with you but seeing they found nothing after the ecg etc it may be worth mentioning it to your Dr.